国际英语新闻：Zimbabwe parties discuss outstanding issues

HARARE, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Negotiators from Zimbabwe's three main political parties have met to discuss some of the outstanding issues ahead of the inauguration of the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) on Friday.

    This marks the first step in the implementation of the September 15, 2008 broad-based power-sharing agreement that would see President Robert Mugabe form an inclusive government by February 13.

    Friday's inauguration of JOMIC followed the SADC (the Southern African Development Community) Extraordinary Summit in South Africa on Monday which resolved that a government be put in place immediately.

Zimbabwean opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai (C) delivers a speech in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, Jan. 30, 2009. Zimbabwean opposition officials Friday said that MDC will join a unity government with President Robert Mugabe next month

    Representatives from the ruling Zanu-PF, the opposition MDC-T and MDC confirmed the development, indicating that they have started discussing on how to iron out their differences, according to the reports by The Herald on Friday.

    Sydney Mufamadi, who is part of the SADC facilitation team led by former South African president Thabo Mbeki, chaired Thursday's meeting.

    Dr Frank Chikane, the director-general in the South African Presidency and a member of the facilitation team, also attended the meeting.

    Zimbabwe ruling Zanu-PF negotiator Nicholas Goche expressed satisfaction at the way the meeting had been conducted.

    "We have had positive discussion on the outstanding issues raised by MDC-T," Goche said.

    MDC secretary-general Professor Welshman Ncube said the teams had discussed the National Security Council Bill and the appointment of provincial governors.

    "Unfortunately, we are not allowed to discuss the negotiations in the media, but we are discussing some of the issues that were referred to us by the SADC summit," said Ncube.

    MDC deputy secretary-general Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga was also in attendance.

    MDC-T was represented by its secretary-general Tendai Biti, Elton Mangoma and Theresa Makone.

    Friday's inauguration of JOMIC will see the parties elect the chairpersons of the various sub-committees in the body.

    JOMIC's creation is facilitated for under Article XXII of the broad-based agreement and its role is to steer the implementation of the inclusive government.

    According to the communique released after the SADC Extraordinary Summit that ended on Tuesday morning, the negotiating teams were to meet to consider the National Security Bill drafted by MDC-T as well as the formula for the distribution of gubernatorial seats.

    SADC resolved that MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC counterpart Professor Arthur Mutambara be sworn in as prime minister and deputy prime minister on Feb. 11, 2009.

    This will be followed by the swearing-in of Cabinet ministers and their deputies two days later.